Sad but someone has to go…
Serbia’s coach Igor Kolaković has resigned after his team’s disappointing performance at the 2014 World Championship. Serbia finished with a bronze medal 4 years ago and for this year the team finished 9th out of 24 teams.
Coach Igor tells zurnal.rs:
“After the big expectations of the fans, volleyball federation of Serbia, me as well, and the results that we achieved at the World Championship, I’ve decided to make this move.
It was a tough decision for me because everything that of all I experienced with the the National Team. I have to take the responsibility for the bad result. A few hours after the defeat against Iran, I wanted to speak with the president of the Serbian Volleyball Federation, Aleksandar Boričić, and then announced my resignation the following morning.
Many things went wrong. I was stubborn with my idea and I probably ruined some things. I have no issues with any of the players. The guys did well at every practice. They did everything that I wanted from them.”
So who will replace him?
With the 2016 Olympics just 2 years away, rumor has it former star setter and 2000 Olympic gold medalist Nikola Grbic is the top pick. In case you didn’t know, Nikola has retired from the sport as a player but switched to coaching.
Earlier this year, he was appointed as the new coach of Italian club team Perugia.
Coach Igor led Serbia to a bronze medal at the 2013 European Championship, gold medal at the 2011 European Championship, bronze at the 2010 FIVB World Championship, bronze at the 2010 World League and silver medals at the 2009 and 2008 World League.
(images: FIVB)